California gubernatorial debate centers on taxes, AI, and Becerra's record In the sole scheduled debate, Democratic front‑runner Xavier Becerra faced Republican Steve Hilton as they clashed over tax cuts, government red tape, AI policy, and Becerra's performance as attorney general. The only California gubernatorial debate held on Wednesday night saw Democratic front‑runner Xavier Becerra confront Republican challenger Steve Hilton on a wide range of issues, from taxes to AI in classrooms and Becerra's record as the state's top law‑enforcement official. Hilton opened aggressively, citing a Washington‑era insult that labeled Becerra a "Bitch‑ass" and demanding that Becerra defend his tenure as attorney general. Becerra responded by criticizing Hilton's tax proposals as "Trump tax cuts" that would benefit the wealthiest Californians while leaving working people behind. Hilton's political agenda focused on eliminating taxes on the first $150,000 of income, scrapping the gasoline tax, and cutting red‑tape by reopening contracts. He also promised to hire a high payroll‑tax worker to cut government bureaucracy.Becerra warned that such tax cuts would hurt the average Californian, added that his opponent's plan would give the wealthiest Californians a 40% break, and stated that he would not allow Wall Street to live easier than teachers. While the debate covered a range of policies, one of the sharpest moments came when Hilton asked Becerra to name a realistic record of reducing red‑tape.Debate Covers AI And Tech AccountabilityBecerra cited his lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach as one such example, but Hilton interrupted by suggesting that was another form of red‑tape. The candidates also discussed artificial intelligence. Hilton called for a pause on AI in California classrooms, whereas Becerra used his lawsuits against Google and Meta to point out his willingness to hold large tech companies accountable. The night's exchange was intense.Becerra pressed Hilton to admit that policies he described would lead to "trump results," taking aim at the former President's endorsement of Hilton. The debate ended with a close call in the legislature, with no second debate scheduled. The primary had seen a crowded field, but only Becerra and Hilton secured the two top spots, earning more than 40% of the vote.Polls Show Becerra Leading HiltonPolls from the UC Berkeley Institute and the Public Policy Institute of California put Becerra ahead at 58%-33% and 60%-38%, respectively. Becerra therefore remains the frontrunner. The questions raised during the debate revolve around the impact of the candidates' policies on California's housing market, its already high cost of living, and the state's future direction under their leadership.